The intersection of Sports & Islam

Muhammad Wilkerson ranks 39th in NFL’s Top 100

Leave it to the hard-luck New York Jets to have a piece of good news actually translate into bad news.

As NFL teams prepare for training camp this summer, the Jets are in the midst of a contract dispute with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson. The 26-year-old is looking for a long-term deal that will make him one of the league’s highest-paid players at his position, and the latest development is that sources indicate Wilkerson may not report to camp while he awaits a resolution.

Meanwhile, Wilkerson was recently acknowledged in the NFL Network’s annual ranking of the league’s top 100 players, voted the 39th-best in the league by fellow NFL players.

Which would normally be a nice footnote to the offseason for the Jets — but now it’s just one more thing Wilkerson can use to bolster his case for a lucrative new contract.

Wilkerson, a practicing Muslim, was the Jets’ first-round draft pick in 2011. Last season he tied a career-high with 69 tackles, to go with 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time and named an All-Pro for the second time. He also improved his spot on the NFL’s top 100 list after being ranked 74th a year ago.

You can watch the NFL Network segment on Wilkerson HERE, and check out a highlight video below: